Gov. Andrew Cuomo said yesterday that the subway system is already improving behind the $836 million emergency plan the Metropolitan Transportation Authority began implementing in July. Statistics to prove the governor's assertion are unavailable, however. Cuomo downplayed recent debris-related delays and a slowdown due to a switch problem. [Crain’s New York Business]

Plus: Veronica Vanterpool, appointed to the MTA by Mayor Bill de Blasio, criticized him for not supporting congestion pricing to fund mass transit. [Morning Insider]

Fast food bulking up in the city

Fast-food chains such as Taco Bell and Chick-fil-A are expanding in New York City. The latter announced yesterday that it would open its largest U.S. location—12,000 square feet over five floors—in the Financial District. Such companies can absorb rising operating costs, including a higher minimum wage, better than small competitors. [Crain’s New York Business]

Charter bus crash prompts calls for stricter rules

Officials are demanding tighter regulation of private buses after a charter bus collided with a city bus in Flushing, Queens, on Monday. Three people were killed and several others injured in the accident. The charter driver, who was among those killed, had been convicted on DUI-related charges in 2015 and was speeding at the time of the crash. [The New York Times]

City launches initiative for LGBTQ youth

Chirlane McCray, wife of Mayor Bill de Blasio, announced an effort yesterday to streamline the work of 16 agencies offering services to young LGBTQ people. The NYC Unity Project will include putting single-stall bathrooms in all public schools, expanding suicide prevention outreach and providing more training for doctors in the city's public health system. [Daily News]

RNC, 2020 campaign underwriting Trumps' legal fees

The Republican National Committee has paid more than $230,000 to defray President Donald Trump's legal costs related to the probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election. In addition, the RNC has paid nearly $197,000 for Donald Trump Jr.'s legal fees in connection with the investigation. Trump's 2020 campaign has also assisted with counsel costs. [The Wall Street Journal]

Plus: The president will be in New York City next week for a fundraising dinner that includes a contest to win a round-trip ticket to meet him. [New York Post]

How to create an upside to gentrification

Economic development, including affordable housing and reasonably priced space for small businesses, is helping lift both longtime and newer residents in up-and-coming neighborhoods, according to Crain’s Editor Jeremy Smerd. Though not a panacea, such development mitigates displacement. [Crain’s New York Business]

Norwegian Air revives Stewart Airport

Passenger traffic at Stewart Airport, 60 miles north of the city, is on pace to increase 45% this year over 2016—largely because of Norwegian Air Shuttle's June launch of international flights there. CEO Bjørn Kjos pointed out that passengers can get through customs faster and get to the Port Authority Bus Terminal for just a $20 ticket. [The Wall Street Journal]

Medicaid mainstay offers small-business coverage

Manhattan-based insurer Healthfirst is now offering four plans to New York City and Nassau County businesses with no more than 100 employees. The plans are provided through HealthPass, a private insurance exchange for small businesses. Healthfirst, traditionally a Medicaid insurer, entered the small-group market in January. [Crain’s Health Pulse]

Clintons hand the global-gathering keys to Bloomberg

Hillary Clinton will be the first speaker today at the inaugural Bloomberg Global Business Forum, hosted by former Mayor Michael Bloomberg at the Plaza Hotel. It is seen as a passing of the torch of sorts: Bill and Hillary Clinton held the last of a similar annual event, the Clinton Global Initiative, last year. [The New York Times]

Lessons learned from a pizza party gone wrong

The failure of the New York City Pizza Festival in Brooklyn earlier this month highlighted how passionate people—millennials in particular—are about spending on experiences. Most such events in the New York area go off smoothly, but the pizza fest flopped amid poor planning—there were only a few dozen pizzas—and irate ticketholders' striking back on social media. [Crain’s New York Business]

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